Hundreds of people (though less than the thousand hoped for) descended upon Tallahassee, Florida yesterday to lobby legislators for repeal of the state's gay adoption ban and passage of anti-discrimination laws inclusive of sexual orientation.
Tallahassee.com reports: "Despite the 62 percent public vote for a constitutional amendmentbanning gay marriage, several legislators told the demonstrators theyshould be optimistic about their long-term political prospects. Sens.Nan Rich, D-Weston; Elenaore Sobel, D-Hallendale Beach; and Dan Gelber,D-Miami Beach, told the mostly young crowd of about 250 marchers thattrends of history are on their side. Stuart Milk, thenephew of slain San Francisco city supervisor Harvey Milk, urged thedemonstrators to go into the Capitol and lobby legislators for bills tocombat 'hate crimes,' repeal the ban on gay adoption and forbiddiscrimination in housing or employment on the basis of sexualorientation. Frank 'Martin' Gill, the plaintiff in apending lawsuit aimed at repealing the adoption ban, said he and hispartner have been foster parents for 10 children but when a SouthFlorida circuit judge granted their request to adopt two boys, thestate immediately appealed under the law forbidding adoption by gays."
Watch a video of the demonstration, AFTER THE JUMP…